Iced: A Best Friends to Lovers Hockey Romance Novel (Walker University Book 1) by Cala Riley

 

Iced: A Best Friends to Lovers Hockey Romance Novel 
(Walker University Book 1)
By Cala Riley

When a star hockey player needs saving off the ice, he hires a tutor who challenges everything he thought he wanted.

Being the star player on the Walker Wolves has always been Clayton James's dream. But when his grades slip, everything he’s worked for is on the line. Desperate to save his hockey career, he hires a tutor. That’s when he meets her—Grace Myers. She’s quiet, innocent, the kind of girl he never thought he’d be interested in. She’s supposed to help him with school, but he’s starting to feel like she’s teaching him so much more.

For years, Grace has been in love with her best friend, Kellan Cooper, even if he’ll never feel the same. She’s accepted that friendship is all he can offer—until Clayton turns her world upside down. He’s loud, cocky, and everything she thought she couldn’t stand. So why can’t she stop thinking about him? And why does the way he looks at her make her feel like she’s the one out of her league?

When opposites collide, will they find their happily ever after—or are their hearts destined to ice over for good?

For fans of the Off-Campus series by Elle Kennedy and the Wildcat Hockey series by Rebecca Jenshak, Iced is a heartwarming tale of unexpected love, second chances, and the challenges of balancing passion and ambition. Don’t miss out on this sizzling hockey romance—grab your copy today and discover if opposites really do attract.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This hockey romance delivers a swoony, feel-good take on the best friends-to-lovers trope that’s impossible to put down. The chemistry between the two leads builds naturally, creating a slow burn that feels both exciting and emotionally grounded.

The hero brings confident golden-boy energy with surprising depth, while the heroine’s quiet strength and intelligence make her easy to root for. Their dynamic is balanced, believable, and full of moments that make you smile.

The pacing works especially well, giving their friendship time to grow before crossing into romance. The college hockey setting adds energy and atmosphere without ever overpowering the love story.

The writing is warm and engaging, packed with playful banter, heartfelt conversations, and just enough tension to keep things interesting. Side characters add charm and make the world feel full and connected.

Overall, this is a cozy, satisfying romance that hits all the right notes. Perfect for fans of sports romance, slow burns, and best friends who finally realize they’re meant to be together.

My thoughts on The Alpine Fortress by Rowena Kinread

  

The Alpine Fortress 

By Rowena Kinread

Publication Date: 12th September 2025

Publisher: Goldcrest Books

Page Length: 311

Genre: Thriller

In the shadow of the Bavarian Alps, a forgotten map leads to an unsolved mystery buried for decades. When Ivanna discovers the sketch among her late grandfather’s belongings, she stumbles upon a secret that connects her family’s harrowing past to the Nazi regime's stolen treasures.

What begins as a curious family discovery quickly escalates into a perilous adventure, drawing the attention of law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and dangerous criminals.

The Alpine Fortress is a thrilling tale of survival, betrayal, and redemption. From the chilling depths of Nazi conspiracies to the breathtaking heights of the Alps, this story will keep you on the edge of your seat as the past and present collide in an unforgettable race against time.

Will Ivanna uncover the truth—or will the secrets of the fortress remain buried forever?

Amazon

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the opening pages, The Alpine Fortress delivers a gripping blend of thriller and intrigue. Set in the dramatic landscape of the Bavarian Alps, the novel plunges the reader straight into the discovery of a mysterious map—one that hints at secrets dating back to the Second World War and the Nazi era. Kinread skilfully weaves together past and present, inviting us to trace how one family’s legacy collides with hidden history.

The protagonist’s journey is engaging and relatable: a federal policewoman going through her grandfather’s belongings, stumbling on a secret that turns her ordinary life into a dangerous adventure. This ordinary-turned-extraordinary setup gives the story immediate emotional anchor and pulls the reader in.

One of the strongest aspects of the book is the setting. The Alps are more than a backdrop—they become a character in their own right. Harsh weather, treacherous terrain, and winding paths all add tension and atmosphere, underscoring the physical and psychological stakes for the characters. The author’s attention to topographical and circumstantial detail makes the environment and the situational peril feel authentic.

The cast of characters is well drawn. We see loyalty, friendship, and betrayal among them; people driven by ideals and others by ambition or greed. The central antagonist is kept in the shadows for much of the novel, although the reader meets his "apes" vicious and dangers criminals, which builds suspense nicely. 

Pacing is another win. The narrative moves steadily, with early curiosity evolving into mounting danger. The dual threats—the literal difficulties of mountain terrain and the more conventional criminal-conspiracy dangers—are layered in a way that keeps the tension fresh. The second half of the book in particular intensifies in pace, making it hard to put down.

While the novel features dark moments—graphic violence and trauma among them—Kinread handles them with care, weaving them into the narrative in service of the story rather than shock alone. This gives the book depth: it isn’t just about the map or the treasure, but about what happens when people’s lives are upended by secrets, history, and the cost of seeking truth.

If you like thrillers that combine strong sense of place, historical mystery, and characters who feel real—not just plot-devices—then The Alpine Fortress delivers. It’s immersive, well-written, emotionally anchored and suspenseful right through to its satisfying conclusion.

Rowena Kinread grew up in Ripon, Yorkshire with her large family and a horde of pets. Keen on travelling, her first job was with Lufthansa in Germany.

She began writing in the nineties. Her special area of interest is history, after researching her ancestry and finding family roots in Ireland with the Dalriada clan, particularly this era. Her debut fiction novel titled “The Missionary” is a historical novel about the dramatic life of St. Patrick. It was published by Pegasus Publishers on April 29th, 2021 and has been highly appraised by The Scotsman, The Yorkshire Post and the Irish Times.

Her second novel “The Scots of Dalriada” centres around Fergus Mór, the founder father of Scotland and takes place in 5th century Ireland and Scotland, and is published by Pegasus Publishers.

The author lives with her husband in Bodman-Ludwigshafen, Lake Constance, Germany. They have three children and six grandchildren.

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Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

Shuggie Bain
By Douglas Stuart

 

It is 1981. Glasgow is dying and good families must grift to survive. Agnes Bain has always expected more from life, dreaming of greater things. But Agnes is abandoned by her philandering husband, and as she descends deeper into drink, her children try their best to save her, yet one by one they must abandon her to save themselves.

It is her son Shuggie who holds out hope the longest. Shuggie is different, he is clearly no’ right. But Shuggie believes that if he tries his hardest, he can be normal like the other boys and help his mother escape this hopeless place.

Amazon

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Shuggie Bain is one of those books that pulls you in right away and doesn’t let go. Douglas Stuart writes with so much heart that you feel every moment—good, bad, and everything in between. It’s intense, but in the best way.

The bond between Shuggie and his mum, Agnes, is incredibly powerful. Their relationship is messy and painful, yet full of love. You root for them even when things get tough, and it’s impossible not to feel for both of them.

Stuart’s Glasgow feels completely real. The details are so vivid that you can almost hear the streets and smell the air. Even when the world is bleak, the writing makes it feel meaningful and alive.

Shuggie himself is unforgettable. He’s brave, sensitive, and trying so hard to figure out who he is in a world that doesn’t make it easy. You can’t help but cheer him on and hope he finds his place.

Overall, Shuggie Bain is emotional, honest, and beautifully written. It hits hard, stays with you, and absolutely earns a full five stars.